In April, I inquired aloud whether Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D‑IL) supported a national ID. It’s clear now that he does—and he’s told us how he wants to use it.

On “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, he said:

I’ve got a driver’s license. It has my photo on it. I have a passport. When I go in and out of the country, the government swipes that passport, and it says, “OK, Luis, you’re ready to come in. You’re authorized.” Why can’t we have a Social Security card with a picture on it, so when you go get a job you swipe it? And if employers don’t use that card, issued by the government to authorize you before you go to work, we send those employers to jail.

Create an internal passport. Send employers to jail. Stop willing Americans from working. Get a handle on all this unfettered freedom.

I discussed why we shouldn’t have a national ID card and federal worker background check system in my Cato Policy Analysis, “Franz Kafka’s Solution to Illegal Immigration.” Congressman Gutierrez’ desire for overall reform is welcome. Some reasons why not to adopt the current national ID card proposal are here, here, here, and here.